To Amend The Inspection Fees Under The Arkansas Grade "a" Milk Program Act Of 1981.
Summary
HB1675 amends the Arkansas Grade “A” Milk Program Act of 1981 to revise the inspection and permit fee structure for regulated milk industry participants. The bill keeps the program’s self-supporting funding model but updates the fees charged to producers, importers of raw Grade “A” milk, milk plants, producer-distributors, milk haulers, distributors of out-of-state processed milk, and single-service plants. It also clarifies when certain annual permit fees are due and preserves the Department of Health’s role in collecting the fees through its Accounting Division.
The measure primarily adjusts existing statutory fee provisions rather than changing the underlying regulatory framework for Grade “A” milk inspection and oversight. It continues to tie fees to milk volume or to fixed annual permit amounts, with laboratory sample charges still applied in some cases. The bill would therefore affect regulated dairy businesses and milk handlers operating in Arkansas, as well as the Department of Health’s administration of the inspection program.
Impact
HB1675 would amend Arkansas Code § 20-59-404, changing the inspection-fee schedule under the Arkansas Grade “A” Milk Program Act of 1981. The bill affects producers, milk plants, producer-distributors, haulers, importers, distributors of out-of-state milk, and single-service plants by updating the amounts and timing of fees used to fund the state’s milk inspection and regulation program. It does not appear to alter substantive milk safety standards or licensing requirements, but it would change the financial obligations associated with compliance and program administration.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate, support, or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and technical in nature, focused on fee adjustments for an existing regulatory program rather than a major policy change. The absence of recorded votes or discussion suggests sentiment cannot be reliably characterized from the supplied context.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the revised fee burden on regulated dairy industry participants, especially producers, distributors, and plants that would pay based on volume or fixed permit charges. Businesses affected by the inspection program may be concerned about higher operating costs or the fairness of the fee allocation, while the Department of Health and program administrators may support the changes as necessary to keep the inspection program self-supporting. Because no committee discussion is available, specific objections or supporters cannot be identified from the record provided.